I Have Five Days In Egypt - What Do I Do?

[Sprucegoose]

Really only need to speak the local lingo if you go somewhere where tourists aren't normally found - and even then google translate or finding a picture of what you are looking for using google images will usually get you through. Trying to find what you want over there can be a very frustrating and time consuming thing - hardware stores are usually no bigger than about 4 x 5 metres - so you have to visit about a dozen different ones just to gather the things you need for even a small project - you lose hours and hours of time trying to find things - and once you find a store that has something you mark it on your google maps so as you can find it again next time.

From my observations, something like a hardware store would be a booming business....Everything looked well-worn at best.

I changed hotels from the Intercontinental to the new Sofitel (old Conrad), which was the difference between night and day.

 

[RSD]

From my observations, something like a hardware store would be a booming business....Everything looked well-worn at best.

I changed hotels from the Intercontinental to the new Sofitel (old Conrad), which was the difference between night and day.

I keep muttering that Bunnings need to expand to Egypt - my life would be so much easier!

There are some really worn out hotels in downtown Cairo - now that the government has moved out of downtown to New Cairo there are plans to convert a few of the various ministry office buildings into hotels which will widen the choices a bit.

 

[RooFlyer]

I changed hotels from the Intercontinental to the new Sofitel (old Conrad), which was the difference between night and day.

That's where I stayed when it was the Conrad, Dec '22. I didn't think it was much chop (for the price). I wonder if Hilton were on the way out at that stage?

 

[p--and--t]

I keep muttering that Bunnings need to expand to Egypt - my life would be so much easier!

There are some really worn out hotels in downtown Cairo - now that the government has moved out of downtown to New Cairo there are plans to convert a few of the various ministry office buildings into hotels which will widen the choices a bit.

When we were in Cairo late 2022 the Movenpick Media City was marvelous, the Radisson Blu Heliopolis was absolutely dreadful.

 

[RSD]

@Sprucegoose - are you planning to do a trip report?

 

[DC3]

@Sprucegoose - are you planning to do a trip report?

Patience Grasshopper

 

[RSD]

Patience Grasshopper

Well he seems to have survived the mayhem of downtown Cairo - that is always a good start

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have just returned from two and a half days in Cairo.

Stayed at the pyramids, one of the - now many - boutique hotels that overlook both the Mena House (Marriott) and the pyramids themselves. Spectacular views.

The new grand museum is overwhelming, There’s just far too much to see, and while its organised by gallery, there’s no simple ‘guide on a page’ to take you through the different eras and dynasties. You could get a guide but they take hours.

53,000 exhibits in the main halls, and the Tut exhibition is still to open.

We did the pyramids the next day. They now sell unlimited tickets to enter the main one, Kufu. There are long lines but they move fairly quickly… maybe 40 or so minutes to queue. By 3pm the queue had gone… so advise you to go late afternoon.

There was an egyptian couple in the queue in front of us that had some really good suggestions for an evening in Islamic Cairo, which would have been fantastic if we’d had the time.

So i recommend maybe a day itinerary. Day one do the museum in the morning and Islamic cairo in the evening. Day two… morning to relax followed by the pyramids in the afternoon.

I would stay in giza. Lots of hotels ranging from chains to boutique. Don’t be afraid of the boutique ones… the tripadvisor rating are pretty accurate. We stayed at a 4.5 rated one and it was better than good.

Uber is easy and cheap. We used it several times. But would recommend getting your hotel to arrange pick up on arrival.

Visa on arrival, you can pay by card. So easy. Took one minute.

For departure, use uber. It’s way cheaper! (just book ‘comfort’)

Staying in giza we left the hotel one night and walked down the main strip… hundreds of local shops, markets and nightlife. We were the only tourists. It was immersive and i highly recommend it.

The tourist touts aren’t nearly as bad as people warn. Yes they are there but they’re not aggressive. You just have to be persistent, and of course, never take anything off them even to look. Or it will be yours! For a price.

There are horror stories about Cairo airport. Honestly with star gold or business class it wasn’t an issue. It took us maybe 30 mins from arrival at the airport to entry, checkin, a primary security check, and the lounge. As we were being processed we saw the economy lines for pass0rt and security, and they weren’t busy, despite the airport being pretty full.

The egyptair lounge was fine, nothing fancy, on par with a VA domestic lounge.

Perfect weather at this time of the year.

Despite all the scam warning - touch wood - no issues paying with credit card. We took out Egyptian pounds but had to force ourselves to use them. We could have paid by card at even the smallest gift shop. (perhaps handy for porters, but they also happily accept USD). Not once did a merchant attempt dynamic currency conversion.

Any other questions happy to help.

 

[Bjet]

Hi @MEL_Traveller … wow that’s wonderful to hear that. Glad you said that Uber is cheaper. Is it safe and trust drivers? Do they use US dollars?… and tip (cash) to Uber driver?

I looked at the tour and said AUD 90 per person from airport to Hotel.

Yeah I can’t wait to visit that museum!

Do you know when it’s the best time to book a plane ticket to Egypt? I’m thinking of going there in September.

 

[RSD]

Have just returned from two and a half days in Cairo.

Stayed at the pyramids, one of the - now many - boutique hotels that overlook both the Mena House (Marriott) and the pyramids themselves. Spectacular views.

The new grand museum is overwhelming, There’s just far too much to see, and while its organised by gallery, there’s no simple ‘guide on a page’ to take you through the different eras and dynasties. You could get a guide but they take hours.

53,000 exhibits in the main halls, and the Tut exhibition is still to open.

We did the pyramids the next day. They now sell unlimited tickets to enter the main one, Kufu. There are long lines but they move fairly quickly… maybe 40 or so minutes to queue. By 3pm the queue had gone… so advise you to go late afternoon.

There was an egyptian couple in the queue in front of us that had some really good suggestions for an evening in Islamic Cairo, which would have been fantastic if we’d had the time.

So i recommend maybe a day itinerary. Day one do the museum in the morning and Islamic cairo in the evening. Day two… morning to relax followed by the pyramids in the afternoon.

I would stay in giza. Lots of hotels ranging from chains to boutique. Don’t be afraid of the boutique ones… the tripadvisor rating are pretty accurate. We stayed at a 4.5 rated one and it was better than good.

Uber is easy and cheap. We used it several times. But would recommend getting your hotel to arrange pick up on arrival.

Visa on arrival, you can pay by card. So easy. Took one minute.

For departure, use uber. It’s way cheaper! (just book ‘comfort’)

Staying in giza we left the hotel one night and walked down the main strip… hundreds of local shops, markets and nightlife. We were the only tourists. It was immersive and i highly recommend it.

The tourist touts aren’t nearly as bad as people warn. Yes they are there but they’re not aggressive. You just have to be persistent, and of course, never take anything off them even to look. Or it will be yours! For a price.

There are horror stories about Cairo airport. Honestly with star gold or business class it wasn’t an issue. It took us maybe 30 mins from arrival at the airport to entry, checkin, a primary security check, and the lounge. As we were being processed we saw the economy lines for pass0rt and security, and they weren’t busy, despite the airport being pretty full.

The egyptair lounge was fine, nothing fancy, on par with a VA domestic lounge.

Perfect weather at this time of the year.

Despite all the scam warning - touch wood - no issues paying with credit card. We took out Egyptian pounds but had to force ourselves to use them. We could have paid by card at even the smallest gift shop. (perhaps handy for porters, but they also happily accept USD). Not once did a merchant attempt dynamic currency conversion.

Any other questions happy to help.

Definitely pyramids in the morning in the summer months though - Cairo in summer is crazy hot.

Departing Cairo airport - you either breeze through and are in the lounge in 30 minutes like you experienced, or it is so packed that three hours is barely enough to get from the front door to the gate and you don't even get to figure out where the lounge is. I've had both experiences flying out at the same time of day. Emirates open check in for their A380 services four hours before departure in the hope that most of them will make it... Cairo airport now though is massively better than the late 80's early 90's when departing from there was almost comparable to the fall of Saigon - but the new terminals are never going to win any awards for their air-conditioning.

 

[RSD]

Hi @MEL_Traveller … wow that’s wonderful to hear that. Glad you said that Uber is cheaper from airport to hotel. I looked at the tour and said AUD 90 per person from airport to Hotel. Thanks for the tip!

Do they use US dollars?… and tip to Uber driver?

Yeah I can’t wait to visit that museum!

Do you know when it’s the best time to book a plane ticket to Egypt? I’m thinking of going there in September.

Climate wise then April-May is the best time - there is a reason that fares are often cheaper in the middle of summer - it is unbearably hot! I've probably got three trips to Egypt in the next 12 months.

Departures from other Australian cities are probably similar, but from Melbourne I find that the best way is the EK A380 flight that leaves at about 5am-ish (times vary a little during the year), as then you have about a two hour stop in Dubai then another A380 to Cairo that gets in about 17:00 local time the same day - clear customs etc, then Uber to the hotel etc (see details about where to find Uber at the airport earlier in this thread), dinner and sleep.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi @MEL_Traveller … wow that’s wonderful to hear that. Glad you said that Uber is cheaper. Is it safe and trust drivers? Do they use US dollars?… and tip (cash) to Uber driver?

I looked at the tour and said AUD 90 per person from airport to Hotel.

Yeah I can’t wait to visit that museum!

Do you know when it’s the best time to book a plane ticket to Egypt? I’m thinking of going there in September.

From our hotel to the airport was 43km give or take. The uber fare - comfort - was LE365, or AUD11.

We paid the hotel USD25 on arrival, before checking the uber price!

Short journeys on uber were like LE50, or AUD1.50. The highest you can tip without going ‘custom’ is 20%.

Our arrival car provided by the hotel was pretty fancy and new. We tipped the driver USD5. On the way back we got a coughty car, same price. We tipped LE100 (AUD3)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Climate wise then April-May is the best time - there is a reason that fares are often cheaper in the middle of summer - it is unbearably hot! I've probably got three trips to Egypt in the next 12 months.

Departures from other Australian cities are probably similar, but from Melbourne I find that the best way is the EK A380 flight that leaves at about 5am-ish (times vary a little during the year), as then you have about a two hour stop in Dubai then another A380 to Cairo that gets in about 17:00 local time the same day - clear customs etc, then Uber to the hotel etc (see details about where to find Uber at the airport earlier in this thread), dinner and sleep.

Maybe some of the issues are flying the A380? lol. We flew MS out of terminal 3. Fast track and it was not bad at all. But honestly economy wasn’t busy either, despite busy lines for checkin.

Air con was blasting!

Weather this last weekend was 21/22 degrees during the day. But cold late at night and at dawn. For walking around during the evening, or dining outdoors, we just needed a light jacket, or none at all.

I’ve been there in peak summer and yes, that is hot!

 

[RSD]

Maybe some of the issues are flying the A380? lol. We flew MS out of terminal 3. Fast track and it was not bad at all. But honestly economy wasn’t busy either, despite busy lines for checkin.

Air con was blasting!

Weather this last weekend was 21/22 degrees during the day. But cold late at night and at dawn. For walking around during the evening, or dining outdoors, we just needed a light jacket, or none at all.

I’ve been there in peak summer and yes, that is hot!

Ah T3 makes a huge difference - T2 is the main international terminal and a lot busier than T3.

 

[RooFlyer]

Glad you said that Uber is cheaper. Is it safe and trust drivers?

I used Uber all around the city no problems at all. Well only a minor problem in that you would give a location on a certain side of the street and they really had no direction and would sometimes pull up on the other side and you’d have to dash across three or four lanes to get them.

And yes, it is cheap!

 

[RSD]

I used Uber all around the city no problems at all. Well only a minor problem in that you would give a location on a certain side of the street and they really had no direction and would someone pull up on the other side and you’d have to dash across three or four lanes to get them.

And yes, it is cheap!

Google maps does the same thing to you when you are driving yourself around Cairo - "your destination is on the right" - nope its on the left on the other side of the street - just one of those things you get used to when living in Egypt.

 

[RSD]

Google maps does the same thing to you when you are driving yourself around Cairo - "your destination is on the right" - nope its on the left on the other side of the street - just one of those things you get used to when living in Egypt.

You have to remember that Egypt is the land of confusion and camels - and google has just run with that.

 

[jase05]

Have 3 nights there in June which is obviously ridiculously hot but it’s really just a stopover for a couple days. We have previously visited but I’ll still go out to the pyramids early one morning. Arriving from DOH on QR and leaving on MS from T3. Staying at the Fairmont and touch wood we get a nice room upgrade.

 

[RSD]

Have 3 nights there in June which is obviously ridiculously hot but it’s really just a stopover for a couple days. We have previously visited but I’ll still go out to the pyramids early one morning. Arriving from DOH on QR and leaving on MS from T3. Staying at the Fairmont and touch wood we get a nice room upgrade.

Nice. June can be really hot in Cairo some years, other years the heat arrives later. Pyramids as you said early one morning, I would suggest the Khan market one evening, museums in the afternoon, and if it is horribly hot then maybe a day trip to Alexandria to escape the heat.